The intellectual dimensions of Islamophobia, mechanisms of intellectual distraction and management of structural economic violence: (France and Britain as a model)

Abstract

This research aims to highlight the structural dimensions linking cyclical economic crises to mechanisms of intellectual distraction, and the use of Islamophobia as a tool to create a scapegoat to bear the consequences of class and popular discontent in Western societies. The study\'s hypothesis is that economic systems resort—during economic crises—to symbolic violence to direct social anger toward minorities or different communities, thereby shifting the conflict from its vertical (economic) trajectory to a horizontal (cultural and identity-based) one. To achieve this, the research employs a descriptive-analytical approach to study discourse, and a comparative approach to clarify the contextual differences between the French and British experiences up to 2024. The study concludes with several findings, most notably that Islamophobia in the West is not merely a fleeting cultural hostility, but rather a structural tool for managing political and economic crises to protect the interests of ruling elites and distract the awareness of working individuals.